Undying Sacrifice

by Prince J Rool

[Cross Posted From AO3] A series of stories, based on the fusion of My Hero Academia and A Certain Magical Index series. Disclaimer: Both titles used belong to their respective writers and publishers, I own nothing.

4. Smile Bomb

"A disposable bomb is brief, yet powerful."
~Akasaka Aka

---

Part 1: Stupid Bastards

---

"Wow! You're doing so well Katsumi-chan!"

Am I?

"What a quirk! You'll be a shoe in for our program!"

Really?

"Top scores in quirk development, fighting ability and academics! You'll reach S-Rank for sure!"

Will I?

"I'm proud to present our newest SS-Rank The Instant Bullet, Bakugou Katsumi!"

So I am.

But…

Wha-

"HEY BAKUBRO!"

*SLAP*

"GAH!"

Katsumi turned around to see the dumb grin of her supposed best friend.

"I told you not to fucking do that shitty hair!" She screamed into his stupid face.

"Ehe… my bad Bakubro…"

"And I told you to stop calling me that!"

Kirishima just smiled and they set off to the meeting point.

"So where did Racoon Eyes decide on?"

The dumbass looked back on his phone.

"Uhh… somewhere… nearby…" He replied glaring intently at his navigation app like it offended him.

A cross appeared on her head. "Of fucking course its somewhere nearby you dumbass!"

The dumbass in question recoiled back.

"I -er, its-a… AH! Over there!" The redhead pointed over to the bus stop on the opposite side of the road.

"Tch. Why didn't you just say so, you fucking dumbass!?"

"Ehe…" The boy in question chuckled again.

"HEY RACOON EYES, SOY SAUCE FACE!"

The pair perked up at the sound of their names (Katsumi's version at least) and looked over at the other side.

"Oh they're here! Hey guys!"

The pink girl happily skipped over. "What took you guys so long? Doing something naugh-"

*BOP*

"Owie!" Ashido held her head in pain.

"You were kinda asking for it you know?" The last member of the team Sero commented.

"Stil…"

"Yeah yeah cut the shit I'm hungry, so wheres this place you were talking about Racoon Eyes?

"Hmph." The acid user pouted. "Its right behind you."

Katsumi turned around, eyes widening at the restaurant they were going to dine in.

Jotaro's Coffee and Restaurant.

'Fuck, really?'

"Looks good Mina-chan! C'mon lets go in and order, I'm starving!"

They all entered one by one, Katsumi lingering behind deep in thought.

Sero looked back. "You coming Bakugou?"

She looked back up. "Y-yeah com'n."

'Couldn't wait more than a few days huh life?'

---

"Will that be all?" The waitress politely asked as she took their orders.

"Nope that'll be all!" Kirishima gleefully replied.

She nodded and returned to the counter.

Not even a minute after that Ashido started spewing her nonsense again.

"So listen to this."

"Oh boy here we go." Sero grimaced.

"Not another shitty rumour." The blonde complained.

"Hey! Some backup here Kiri?"

"Umm… I'd like to listen Mina-chan?" The hardening boy questioningly spoke.

"Eeeee! I knew someone was interested!" She squealed ignoring his tone.

A collective sigh was heard, and the group relented.

"So any of you heard of the dark magician?"

Katsumi perked up.

'Magician? Don't tell me…'

"Nope, but you knew that." Sero deadpanned.

Mina grinned cheekily and continued. "So they say he was a scientist exploring the next dimension."

'Dimensions? Crap.'

"They say that in an accident he discovered a portal to the world beyond life and death."

'Well… they aren't wrong.'

"They say he got possessed by a devil."

'Ok what.'

"And now he wanders around using black magic, cursing anyone in who gets his way. It could be anyone, the old lady crossing the street, the waitress that took our order, or even… YOU!"

"…"

"Umm… Ahhhhh?" Kirishima yelled half heartedly.

Mina frowned. "C'mon! You guys aren't the least bit scared?"

"Pfft. Thats a load of horse crap, theres no such thing as magic." Katsumi tried to deny.

"C'mon! What if he comes to haunt you~"

"Then I'll blast the shit out of him." 'If it even did jack to him.'

"She's gotta point Ashido." Sero replied.

"Mou!" Mina pouted.

"Well well, look what the bitch dragged in."

The team turned to the outside voice.

It was a girl the same age as them with a black streak on the left side of her long blonde hair.

Katsumi scoffed. "Tch. Oh look what we have here, the queen of fuckery herself."

Kaminari Doi continued to glare at the group. "Says the short fused bitch, oh or do you prefer the future number 4?"

"The fuck you say!?"

Kaminari snapped her fingers and three more girls joined her side. One had short purple haired and naturally long earlobes with plug like ends, one with blonde hair, blue eyes and two tall horns protruding from her head, and the last with fair skin and bright cerulean eyes, but with an unchanging neutral expression on her face.

"Wow did you practice that? Real nice, you all make a great fucking circus trope."

Jiro scoffed. "Please as if we would try to copy you four."

"Oh is that so!?" This time Ashido yelled.

"Yeah fuck you!" Pony chimed in.

"Really?" Sero deadpanned.

Kodai kept silent the whole time.

Finally after a long stare down between both teams Kirishima stepped in. "Hey hey guys!? What the hell are we doing? Aren't we supposed to be two of the best sidekick teams in the city? Why're we acting like jackasses in the middle of a public restaurant?"

"…."

Kaminari broke the silence with a scoff. "Fine, we'll be the more mature group here. Girls lets go."

She lead the group out, Katsumi cursing and swearing behind them as they trailed off.

---

"You could have just ignored her y'know?" Kirishima chided.

"Tch." Katsumi knew the redhead was right, but deep down she just couldn't stand that bitch.

The number 4, Kaminari Doi, The Electromaster.

"C'mon Kiri! You know how they are. Those girls have had it for us from the start." Ashido argued.

"Besides if they started it, if they just kept quiet and ordered their meal in peace then we wouldn't have said anything." Sero chimed in.

"Damn straight." Katsumi agreed.

"You know you would have said something regardless." Kirishima refuted.

"Tch. Maybe." Katsumi said with a smirk.

The team walked out of the restaurant feeling full but frustrated, pondering about what to do next.

"C'mon guys lets just forget about this and go do something fun!" The pink skinned girl suggested.

"How about the arcade?"

"You know you just want to check if someone beat your dance dance score." Sero deadpanned.

"Do not!"

"Do too."

"Do not!"

While the two of them were arguing at the back like kids at a playground, Kirishima took one last chance to talk to his team leader.

"Bakubro, you're both in the top 10 aren't you? Couldn't you two just take the time to talk it out? This can't go on until we become commissioned as heroes y'know?"

Katsumi looked away with a scowl on her face.

She didn't even know what that bitches problem was.

Was it the higher ranking? Was it just some rivalry? Or did she just hate her because?

Either way Katsumi didn't care.

Not in any universe would she ever get along with Kaminari Doi.

*BOOM*

There was a loud explosion and a tremor that followed it.

"What the fuck!?"

The team looked at each other and nodded.

They rushed toward the source of the explosion full speed.

They saw a crowd surrounding a certain shop.

It was a stickup at a jeweller.

There were five guys.

One haggling the shopkeeper.

Two keeping guard outside.

One holding a customer at gun point.

One more watching the three downed sidekicks who tried to interfere.

Katsumi liked those odds.

The robber angrily rushed the shopkeeper. "Hurry up and put it in the fucking bag! Before I-"

*Tap Tap*

"What do yo-"

"Hey." Instead of the face of his accomplice like he was expecting, it was a plain faced boy with a large toothy grin.

"Wha-"

*BAM*

The robber was dragged away and tied up by white tape coming from skin coloured dispensers attached to his hips.

"How did- GAH!" The robbers didn't have time to react before being assaulted by Sero's teammates.

One of them apparently had a fire quirk and tried to set Ashido on fire.

*Splash*

"Gah! What the?" He uselessly tried re-activating his quirk but it was no use, his flames just weren't igniting.

"Your quirk makes you sweat napalm doesn't it?" Ashido commented holding a slime covered hand.

"I recognised the smell, all I needed to do was produce an acid-base mixture to neutralise it."

"Why you…"

*BAM*

The robber was socked in the face by a hardened fist before he could finish.

"Thats three." Kirishima looked over at his teammates.

Katsumi kicked another thug in his face knocking him out. "Thats four."

"Where the last one go?"

*Shake*

There was another large tremor and many loud screams, the team looked outside to find the last robber. He still looked the same with his horse-shark like face, only this time he was a hundred times larger.

"Tch. Gigantification quirk."

The crowd lurking around the scene of the crime screamed and dissipated like a large breeze in a fog.

Quick as a flash Katsumi's team started to do crowd control.

"Everyone please calm down!" Sero shouted.

"Theres nothing to worry about, its all under control." Ashido pleaded.

"B-but t-that giant v-villain…"

"You have nothing to worry about ma'am, she's got this." Kirishima reassured the woman with a smile.

"W-who?"

*BLAST*

A laser beam shot straight at the giant through the street, but it was no ordinary laser.

Thanks to the hero development program, Katsumi had her quirk and body modified to dramatically increase her output.

Before she was simply igniting nitroglycerin sweat in her palms.

Now she could produce it from every pore of her body, and control it completely.

Her control was so fine that she could condense her output to the diameter of a nitroglycerin molecule.

This allowed her to harness the full power of her nitroglycerin, releasing energy from every single bond. The covalent bonds between the atoms, the binding energy of the electrons, even the strong nuclear force between quarks and gluons.

All released into a beam that moved near light speeds.

With a finger gun pose, she aimed at the giant firing a beam that was so focused yet powerful it caused the surrounding air to ionise and spark with yellowish orange electricity.

The villain was knocked out in an instant.

"Her. Our team leader."

Katsumi blew on her finger as if it was a real gun.

"The third strongest hero to come out of I-Island. Bakugou Katsumi."

"The Instant Bullet."

( インスタントブレット)

[超原子砲 ]

---

Part 2: Stupid Villain

---

Nothing comes without a price to pay, be it your own or someone else's

---

"Pant pant pant…"

Katsumi was out jogging again.

Just because she's one of the top sidekicks on the island doesn't mean she's gonna slack off.

"Phew…"

She stopped for a breather, leaning against a railing separating the street from the-

Katsumi looked up and realised where she was.

Dagobah Municipal Beach Park.

This is where it all began.

This is where science and magic first crossed paths.

This was where she first met the strange boy who wanted to bend reality.

The boy who wanted to create a way for those without talent to do the same things as those with talent.

The boy who became her hero.

The boy named Izuku.

---

6 Months ago

"LOOK OUT!"

*SLASH*

"Kyaa!"

Fucker seriously just tried to cut my head off!

"Who are you!? And why are you trying to hurt Bakugou-san!?"

Thats what I want to know!

"You might call me something of a purifier."

"A what?"

"A purifier of sin. I am the one who will cleanse the sin off the name hero. To wipe out the fakes who dare call themselves heroes, but have lack the conviction to do what true heroes would do. To do what All Might would do."

What the fuck is this freak on about!?

"But Bakugou-san did nothing wrong! All she's done today is help me! How could you judge her like that, if you yourself would kill a helpless child! How could you hold up to All Might by killing innocents!?"

Hey I'm not helpless!

"Bah! She may be a child but she's hardly helpless." Shitstain said something rational for once.

"She's one of the biggest fakes on this damned island! I've seen them all… Paraded around like they've accomplished so much. Saying that they'll be the greatest heroes. But they haven't done a thing to earn that title!"

Fakes? I earned that title I worked my ass off for it. And so did my team I-

Wait.

They worked as hard as me.

Did they?

But I'm stronger than all of them aren't I?

Did they not put in as much effort?

No.

I remember.

I remember all that time spent training.

I remember Racoon Eyes almost dying because she tried to save some girls.

I remember Shitty Hair existential crisis because he couldn't protect her, because he didn't deserve to be a hero.

I remember Soy Sauce Face going through hours of rehabilitation after getting his new dispensers.

"She's just a product, the top of the line production of this islands fakes. She has no right to claim the title when all she's done is be born lucky."

I remember the pain.

I remember the heartbreak.

I remember the torment.

But did I ever go through that struggle?

Was there ever any doubt of my ability?

Did I truly earn that number 3 spot?

Was I just born lucky?

"…You're wrong."

What?

"What?"

"I said you're WRONG!"

I saw Izuku stepping forward.

What was he doing?

"I know you. Hero Killer Stain, am I right?"

"So you've heard of me."

"I've heard plenty. Of your ridiculous standards for heroes. Of how you murdered dozens of heroes. Some of them still cadets…"

Izuku raised his fist against the hero killer. "But who gave you the right to be judge, jury and executioner!? Who gave you the right to decide that those heroes weren't worthy? Maybe they doing it for less than savoury reasons. Maybe they were born into that position. Maybe they didn't do the best they could. But…

They were all still people! People who had friends and family, who loved them… who mourned them! People who saved lives! People whose lives held extraordinary value! So…"

Izuku charged forward, "Who gave you the right to take all of that away from them!?"

The hero killer grinned and licked his sword, and at that instant I froze.

At first I thought I was frozen in fear because Izuku charged straight at a mass murderer of heroes.

At first I didn't realise that it was the hero killer's quirk at work.

At first I thought it was because the hero killer just stabbed Izuku through the chest.

For the first time in my life I realised…

This was true fear.

"Heh. I know who you are too, legendary failure…"

Legendary failure? The only quirkless person on I-Island? That was Izuku? That explained why he wanted to create that new magic system. But…. but…

"Bleugh!" Izuku coughed up a mouthful of blood.

He definitely didn't deserve this just for being quirkless!

"If only you had the power to back up your conviction, you'd make a fine hero." The hero killer pulled his sword out from Izuku's bloody torso.

"But in the end, without a quirk, I guess you truly are just a failure."

No…

No…

NOOOO!

SOMEONE HELP ME!

SOMEONE HELP US!

SOMEONE HELP HIM!

Izuku slumped down, his arms clenching tightly on his wound.

SOMEONE PLEASE! ANYONE!

SOMEONE SAVE HIM BECAUSE I CAN'T MOVE

SOMEONE SAVE US BECAUSE I'M TOO WEAK

SOMEONE SAVE ME BECAUSE-

Because…

For the first time in my life I'm at someone else's mercy.

For the first time in my life I felt so helpless.

For the first time in my life I felt so useless.

For the first time in my life I needed…

I need…

I need a hero to save me

"Pfft. Hahahahahaha."

What? What was that?

"HahahahahahahahahHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

I-Izuku? Whats going on?

"I see…"

The hero killer froze, looking both shocked and confused at Izuku's sudden change.

"I SEE! HAHAHAHAHAHA…."

No… thats not shock or confusion.

"IT IS! HAHAHAHA! IT IS!"

Its fear.

"The soul is… the soul is reality… Our brAins… Our cOnsciousness… They contain Nth Dimensional Energy… THEY ARE NTH DIMENSIONAL ENERGY! HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Whats happening to him?

"My formulas… They're stOpping my soul from esAaping… They're kEeping my energy in… They're syphoning mOre… From where… Is this heAven… Is this hEll… or just purgatOry… HAHAHAHA! OR ARE THEY ALL THE SAME?! HAHAHAHA!"

Is this the magic he was talking about?

"Oh how incOnsiderate of me… I didn't ask plEase…" He held up a bloody-

What the fuck?

"FUUUCK!"

DID HE JUST SLICE THE HERO KILLERS ARM OFF!?

"Hey."

What the…

"You cAn have this back… My apOlogies…"

"Bleugh!"

DID HE JUST GUT THE HERO KILLER!?

"Hahahaha…."

Izuku…

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

What happened to you!?

"Ahhh-" I clasped my mouth shut at the horror.

I didn't realise it at the time that the hero killer's quirk wore off.

Was it because of what Izuku did? Or because he's now…

"HahahaHAHahahahaaaa…."

He turned to look at me, with that malicious bloody look on his face.

"Y-yo-y-you-"

What?

"-your'e s-s-afe…"

Izuku's face relaxed back into a soft smile, back to the idiot I knew.

"…t-thank g-goodness."

*Slam*

He finally collapsed, blood still pouring profusely from his wound.

"SHIT!"

I turned him over, and started giving him a one over.

"Fuck he's losing too much, too fast."

I whipped out my phone and hit the emergency contact.

"Come on, come on…" I waited with bated breath for the phone to pick up. Watching him, making sure he didn't bleed out.

"UA Central Medical, whats your emergency?"

All thoughts flew out from my head as I frantically called for help.

"SOMEONES BLEEDING OUT PLEASE SEND HELP!"

I called and begged for them to come quickly, praying to whatever deity out there to take pity on this poor boy.

When they arrived however, they didn't want to take him in because of his… quirk issue.

Thankfully after some 'aggressive negotiations' they complied. And brought us to the hospital, where that old bag managed to fix him up.

I waited outside as she operated on him.

I couldn't remember how many hours it took, it could have been four, it could have been forever.

But I refused to leave.

I refuse to let him die.

Just like how he refused to let me die.

*Ding*

The operation indicator finally went off.

Out came the small elderly doctor, who I didn't know at the time was the best one on the island. Hell maybe the whole world.

"How is he!? Is he gonna b-"

Recovery Girl held up a hand, to stop me from going off.

"Its gonna be alright dearie, I've dealt with much worse. Even if my quirk didn't work for some reason."

"S-so…"

"However… the boy seems to be in a coma, possibly due to the sheer amount of blood lost…"

"WHAT!?"

"But don't worry I'm going to make sure he makes a full recovery. Wouldn't be the first time…" She mumbled under her breath.

"What?"

"Nothing dearie, just the ramblings of an old woman."

I came back the next day, but Izuku still wasn't awake.

Then the next day.

Then the next.

Then the next week.

Next month.

Finally after 3 months he finally woke up.

Thank god.

For a moment I didn't think he would ever wake up.

For a moment I didn't think I get to thank him for saving me.

For a moment I didn't think I get to thank him for…

Thank him f-for…

…being my hero.

---

Part 3: Stupid Jeans

---

"Judging by the trail of blood, the subject died around 10 to 20 minutes after the wound was inflicted."

The detective stood inspecting the wreckage of a villain attack.

"What puzzles me is the wound, it was shallow but deep enough to sever critical blood vessels. Furthermore our analysis shows the force used to inflict that wound would not have been sufficient to puncture the villains heavy defences, yet there were no bruises indicating excess force used to puncture the defen-

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE'RE NOT AUTHORISED!?"

Naomasa looked away from the scene to see a blonde haired girl screaming at the assigned I.D: S.M.P guards at the perimeter.

"I"LL HAVE YOU KNOW_"

"Whats going on here?" Tsukauichi reluctantly turned to the problem at hand.

Katsumi hmphed and turned to the good detective.

"So you're the one in charge of these dogs?"

On I-Island there are three forms of law enforcement.

First the junior sidekicks and the non commissioned semi pros above them.

Secondly the fully commissioned pro-heroes in charge of large agencies of sidekicks.

And finally the I.D: S.M.P (Island Defence: Student Management Police-force).

They wore full grey and black suits, each designed to make sure all of them looked physically similar. Each at about 178cm tall and of similar build, and equipped with vocal scramblers to mask their voices.

The process of recruitment was similarly kept a secret, the criteria was unknown as well as the training process.

For all they knew the old man walking down the street, the girl rushing to school or the baker you frequent could be part of this island wide defence force.

But besides the equipment issued they all had one thing in common.

They were loyal to a fault to I-Islands administration.

You could call them soldiers.

But many preferred to call them dogs.

Dogs that wagged around at their masters.

Dogs that only followed orders.

"Yes I am." The detective held out his hand.

"Detective Tsukauichi Naomasa, head of UA City investigation branch."

The instant bullet took a look at the detectives hand and sneered.

"Bakugou Katsumi."

Tsukauichi retracted his hand.

"I know who you are."

"Then you know that me and my team have full authorisation to assist in this investigation."

"Thats what you don't know."

"Excuse me?"

"The investigation was authorised to be headed by me and me alone."

"Says fucking who?"

"Says the Island Bureau of Investigation."

"Well they can take that right up thei-"

*Freeze*

Katsumi suddenly froze, every muscle fiber in her body suddenly stiffened.

Katsumi felt this before.

She knows what this is.

She knows whose quirk this is.

"I'm sorry take it right up where, ojou-san?"

Out of the corner of her eye she saw the rest of her team frozen in the same manner, their facial muscles showing signs of fear right before stiffening.

And staring right at her face was impending doom dressed in denim.

The Pro Hero in command of her team.

Hakamada Tsunagu.

The number 15 on the World Hero Commission International Ranking.

Best Jeanist.

---

Genius Office

"You acted like a child."

Katsumi rolled her eyes. "Legally I still am."

"You are a hero."

Jeanist glared at Katsumi with a look that said, 'Shut the fuck up.'

"One of the best and brightest this program has ever seen."

Katsumi looked down, not wanting to meet her mentors gaze.

"Only two have ever shown power and potential greater than yours."

"And yet you do this? Arguing with authorities, abusing your rank and power, setting a bad example for your team!"

Kirishima, Ashido and Sero winced at that statement.

"I'm not sure you're ready."

Katsumi snapped back up.

"You can't."

"I can."

"The exam is in a month."

"Your exam will be in a year and a month if you don't show me standards."

Katsumi clenched her fists.

"Correction. Your team's exam will be in a year and a month."

Katsumi contemplated before looking back at her team.

"I'm not trying to string you along Bakugou-kun."

Katsumi looked back at him.

"The reason I assigned you as team leader is not because of your rank or your quirk."

"Then what? Because I'm a born leader or some shit?"

"Because I know you're capable. Because I know you have what it takes to improve."

"Really? Because what you sai-"

"Is all true."

Silence permeated the room.

"Thats why it would be a shame if I had to pull you out from the exam. Pull all of you out."

The trio behind the blonde looked warily at the scene before them.

"You're all dismissed."

Katsumi slowly turned to leave the office, the rest of her team following suit.

---

"Umm…Bakugou?"

The silence was palpable, both Kirishima and Ashido were uncharacteristically quiet.

Only Sero bless his soul had the courage to speak up.

"What is it Sero?"

Hanta winced, it had to be serious if Katsumi addressed him by name.

"You… wanna go to the arcade?… I know Ashido-chan wanted to check out the new game."

Mina perked up at her name being mentioned.

"Y-yeah… C'mon Katsumi-chan! Lets just forget abou-"

"No thanks."

"Eh?"

The explosive girl turned with a mellow expression.

"You guys go ahead I got… some things to think about."

"Bakubro…"

"I'll see you guys tomorrow."

Katsumi blasted off with her quirk, aimlessly drifting across the city.

What was she doing?

She dodged a flock of birds coming her way.

What the fuck was she doing?

Katsumi landed on top an apartment building and launched off higher.

She was one of the top sidekicks in the world, her team was the best (not that she'll say it to their faces) and she was this close to getting promoted.

So why does it feel like she hasn't changed a bit?

Katsumi remembers back when she was a kid.

When she thought she was hot shit.

When she thought she was the best in the world.

How naive.

Her parents had such high hopes for her.

Her teachers praised her at every turn.

Her peers told her she would be better than even All Might.

But they were wrong.

On all accounts.

She became the number 3 within a year of starting basic hero training.

She was the top of her class.

But what did she do since then?

Sure being in the top 3 of the greatest quirk users in the programs history was astounding but that was just it.

She was the number 3.

She is the number 3.

She wasn't even close to being the best.

What had she accomplished since then?

It wasn't that her quirk stopped developing.

She was far more powerful than she was years ago.

So why hasn't she beaten the second rank yet.

Was the gap that wide?

Would she ever reach All Might?

Rumours say the number 1 already surpassed All Might.

Would she ever reach their level?

How was she going to be the best?

Her child self would laugh and spit in her face if she saw her now.

She landed by a random alleyway, and proceeded to punt a nearby dumpster into the stratosphere.

"FUCK!"

That wasn't enough.

She needed to hit something harder if she wanted to relieve all this stress.

She needed a good fight if she…

"Umm…"

Across the entrance of the alleyway she was spotted by a passing pedestrian.

A pedestrian with green eyes and c̶u̶t̶e̶ fluffy hair.

"DEKU!"

"Eep!"

Just before Izuku had the chance to run, Katsumi called out.

"I need your help!"

The quirkless boy paused, it was unlike the number 3 to ask someone for help like this.

Fear twisting into concern Izuku moved to Katsumi's side.

"Whats wrong Kacchan? Are you alright? Is it some villain?"

She gripped his shoulder, and faced him with a menacing grin.

"Fight me."

Izuku paled.

"Crapsicles."

---

Between the Lines 1:

---

Name: Hakamada Tsunagu
Quirk: Fiber Master
Age: 32
Note: Used to be the 4th Rank of I-Island before he became commissioned. His quirk was enhanced to the point where he could better control fibres outside of plant based fibers, being able to better control carbon fiber, optic fiber and even muscle fibers, although it takes a huge amount of concentration to control all the fibers of a whole person.

---

Part 4: Stupid Deku

---

I remember the first time…

It was a week after he was discharged.

A blast fired from her palms.

And he just blocked it like it was nothing.

I tried to blindside him with my speed.

And he just dodged me like it was nothing.

I fired my most powerful attack at him.

And he just raised his hand.

Not even a scratch.

What happened?

Was he always that strong?

Is that how he overcame the Hero Killer?

Or was I alaways this we-

"Kacchan? Kacchan? Earth to Kacchan?"

"Wha?"

"Are you really ok? You seem really out of it."

"W- I-I'm fine you damn nerd, l-lets just get on with it."

After their misfortunate encounter, Katsumi dragged Izuku for a fight some short exercise.

To make sure Izuku didn't run no one saw them, they found an abandoned building that was previously used for simulation training.

They could go all out.

Katsumi could go all out.

Only then could she know for sure.

The two walked 10 metres away from each other, standing at ready.

"On 3." The blonde declared.

"1."

Izuku put his arms up in a defensive stance.

"2."

Katsumi readied her palms, itching to let an explosion out.

"3!"

The number 3 blasted off toward her target.

Thanks to the experiments she could now control her nitroglycerin completely, allowing her to sweat it from every pore in her body.

Her soles lit up with a fiery determination, palms aimed toward Izuku.

An loud explosion went off in Izuku's face

It didn't do anything.

It had nothing to do with his unique ability, Katsumi knew that he could easily negate it.

It wasn't a direct attack, but merely a smokescreen.

A smokescreen that propelled her upward and flipped her behind his back.

Her calf lit up with another explosion and Katsuimi aimed the propelled kick at the green haired boys head.

But it hit nothing but the air.

Izuku predicting her attack swerved and ducked, already aiming a fist at the blonde.

Katsumi fired of an explosion propelling herself back, narrowly dodging the unexpected attack.

After gaining some distance Katsumi rethought her strategy.

As difficult an opponent as Izuku was, he wasn't unbeatable.

He still had a weakness.

He was still quirkless.

Besides the energy protecting him from quirks, he didn't have any other advantages in combat.

Even Shitty Hair had a defence that doubled as an offence.

This also meant he was only limited to close combat.

Even if her normal blasts wouldn't work she could still use hit and run tactics with her explosion enhanced speed.

The problem was as she saw before, the nerd was smart as fuck.

Not just the old physics and math bullshit, but observant.

Prediction and analysis.

If he saw her attack patterns, he could predict where and when she would attack him.

To win this she would need to be fast and unpredictable.

To win this she needs to catch him off guard.

She lit yet another explosion under her feet, pouncing toward Izuku.

Katsumi ignited an explosion at her elbow, punching Izuku with the force of a ton of TNT.

As expected Izuku dodged the attack, but Katsumi was relentless.

"DIE DIE DIE." She launched a barrage of explosion propelled punches, each going so fast a marine biologists spirit would be jealous.

Izuku took a few hits, not being fast enough to dodge them all.

To stop her spontaneous attacks, the quirkless boy dove underneath the girl and grabbed her legs.

Just before Katsumi was slammed down on the ground, she executed her plan.

She let out a huge explosion toward the ground propelling the both of the in an axel motion.

Once Izuku let go he was defenceless while mid air.

But he never did.

Katsumi let another explosion to shake him off, but the trajectory went off.

At the last minute before the explosion went off, Izuku shifted his weight as much as he could to mess with the direction of her blast, causing them to crash toward the ground.

Katsumi taking the brunt of their collective weights.

Groggily she got up to find a fist in her face.

Katsumi instinctively shut her eyes, preparing for the blow to be dealt.

But it never came.

Opening an eye in confusion, she saw the same fist still in front of her.

"Checkmate."

What.

Izuku released a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.

"I win, the fights over ok Kacchan?"

She lost again?

He reached a hand out. "Lets go home kay? Its starting to get late."

Not to All Might.

Not to a serial killer.

Not to the number 1 and 2.

To Deku.

The quirkless boy who saved her.

"NO!" She slapped his hand away.

Izuku looked at her pleadingly. "C'mon Kacchan, how many times do you wanna-"

"AS MANY TIMES AS IT FUCKING TAKES!" The blonde screamed out in anger.

"Why?"

"Wha-"

"This isn't about letting out steam or training or anything like that is it?"

"…"

"So whats going o-"

"Shut up…"

"Kacchan…"

"I SAID SHUT UP!" Katsumi fired a blast, which Izuku easily negated.

"Please Kacchan-"

"DON'T CALLL ME THAT!"

Katsumi finally looked up at him.

"DON'T TALK TO ME AS IF I-"

Katsumi turned away.

"A-as if I…"

Izuku's face gained a concerned look.

"…I'm a child."

"A child?"

"An immature useless, good for nothing child…"

Katsumi clenched her fists.

"A DUMB FUCK WHO CAN'T DO SHIT! SOME BITCH WHO JUST GOT BORN LUCKY! SOMEONE WHO…"

The blonde sniffed.

"Someone who doesn't deserve to lead such a great fucking team into oblivion."

She closed her eyes again.

"So do it…"

The attack came.

But Izuku used both arms.

And it came in the form of an embrace.

Kastumi snapped her eyes open in surprise.

"Wha- what are you…"

"Do you know why called you Kacchan?"

"Because I called you a stupid Deku who'd throw himself at dangerous bastards."

"And I said if you gave me a nickname then I'd call you Kacchan, but thats not just it."

"?"

"Its because you're cute."

"Wha-w-w-w-what a-a-are you s-saying?" The girl blushed.

"Its because you're a cute, strong, talented girl. Not because you're childish or immature, I mean sure you act weird sometimes and blush for no reason…"

Theres a good fucking reason you damn nerd!

"But I know you're passionate, you're hardworking, you stop at nothing until you achieve your goal."

Katsumi was trying hard not to blow up right there and then.

"But this, this isn't you. The Bakugou Katsumi I know wouldn't let a shitblock like this get in her fucking way."

Izuku ruffled her spiky hair.

"The Kacchan I know would train, get better and have another go at whatever's in her way."

Izuku moved to face her.

"So who are you?"

Katsumi looked down trying to hide her crimson cheeks.

*BOOM*

And she exploded.

Izuku jolted back in shock.

"Y-y-you damn nerd! W-who do you think you are? T-telling me who I am, w-what I do. The number 3 returned to her blushing tsundere mode.

Izuku sweat dropped. "Uhh hehe.."

"I know who I am." She pointed at his face.

"I'm the third strongest on this island of quirks, The Instant Bullet!" The blonde said with a smirk.

"I'm Bakugou Katsumi!"

Izuku smiled.

"Yes you are."

---

Between the Lines 2:

---

Back at Katsumi's apartment

"Fuwaaaa!"

Katsumi laid face first into her pillow.

'What was that!? I broke down in front of him and he just… he just…'

She screamed into her pillow.

'And that idiot was like… like…'

Katsumi squealed screamed again.

[This went on for another 5 hours]

---

Part 5: Stupid Quirks

---

*SLAM*

"Sorry I'm late guys!" Kirishima panted.

The team was waiting in one of the cities many facilities, awaiting a 'remedial session' assigned by Jeanist after their 'incident'. Advanced quirk studies, not like they really needed it at their level. The hero probably assigned it just to fuck with them.

"Your earlier than the teacher at least." Sero spoke up.

"Ughhh how long is this teacher gonna take?" Ashido complained.

"Tsk. Still, try to make it on time next time, we don't want this happening on call." Katsumi scolded.

"R-right my bad."

"So what were you saying Ashido?" Sero prompted.

"Oh yeah! So as I was saying, on the day of June 25th. Is it too early or too late for Christmas?" The pink skinned girl asked.

"Isn't that the furthest day from Christmas?" Inquired the blonde.

"Technically 26th December is the furthest day from Christmas." Sero rebutted.

"Thats literally a day away from Christmas." Katsumi deadpanned.

"Nah man you have to wait a whole year for Christmas, thats way too late!" Kirishima spoke up.

"But thats-"

*Creak*

"Fucking finally, what took ya so…" Katsumi trailed off.

There wasn't any teacher in sight, just a short girl with pink hair that looked even younger than them.

"Oh for fucks sake."

The whole team sighed.

"Wha? Whats with the sigh?"

"We've been waiting for hourrrrrsssss…" Ashido droned.

"Hey kid do you at least know when the teachers coming?" Sero questioned.

"Yeah for the best teacher on the island they sure aren't setting a good example. So unmanly!"

The girl blushed. "Eto… actually…"

"You know, if they aren't coming I'm just gonna ditch. Anyone up for so-"

"Racoon Eyes!"

"Eh?"

"Sit."

"Am I a dog?" Mina sweat dropped.

"You'll live in ones house if you don't sit the fuck down and wait like a good girl."

"You really are treating me like a dog!" The girl wailed.

"Ashido."

"Mmm, fine…" She pouted.

The short girl suddenly broke into a loving smile. "I heard from Tsunagu-kun that you were a rowdy bunch, but if you have such a stern leader to keep you in check I don't think sensei needs to worry."

"I'm sorry what?" Sero said confused.

The girl walked to the centre of the classroom. "Good morning everyone, my name is Tsukuyomi Komoe. You may address me as Komoe-sensei"

The room went silent, right before exploding into a-

"WHAT!?"

---

"…and so the functions of the quirk that we take for granted like Kirishima-chan's hardening are actually controlled by our subconscious mind Scientists like David Shield actually have theorised that mental quirks were actually the first quirks that ever emerged, far preceding the fabled luminescent baby in Qing Qing City."

The lesson had been going on for 3 hours straight, most of the students already on the brink of insanity.

"Which also explains how we were able to advance our education much further than before, did you know that before World War 4 students attended university programs at 18? But now wit- EH!? Whats wrong!?"

The entire team (Barring Katsumi) were at their limit, looking pale and foaming with the taste of death.

"Ahhhhhhh…."

"My brainnnnnn…."

"Too much…."

Katsumi sighed. "There's only 2 more chapters you fuckers. Just pay attention for another hour and we'll be done."

"Can't… brain in too much pain… seeing light… grandma is that you?" Ashido droned.

Komoe sighed. "Alright how about a break, who wants some ice cream?"

Like zombies springing out from their graves, Mina being the most literal, jumped out to hug the small woman. "BEST SENSEI EVER!"

"Fuwaaa! Sensei is glad but restrain yourself Ashido-channnnnn." Cried the teacher while being crushed.

---

One ice cream later

"Mmmm! I'm alive again!" The acid user squealed.

"Manliest sensei I ever had!"

"Sensei is… unsure on how to feel about that, but I appreciate the sentiment." Komoe sweat dropped.

"Did we really have to go all the way the park for this though?" Sero inquired.

The class currently was loitering around a nearby park savouring their ice cream and respite.

"Either way, we should finish up quick and get back its getting pretty late." Katsumi reminded.

Multiple groans were heard, most of them Ashido.

"Aww… c'mon boss if I listen to one more chapter of that stuff I'm going to-"

*Sniff*

"Eh?" Mina turned to her small teacher.

"I-I'm sorry Ashido-chan, Sensei will strive to make her lessons more engaging for you all."

"EH!? T-thats not what I meant Sensei! Ahhhh!" Ashido waved her arms around in a panic.

"Sigh." Katsumi felt done.

"H-how about this then? I will ask 3 questions about the chapters I was about to teach. If you can answer at least 2 of them correctly, then I don't need to redo that content."

"Seriously? Alright!" Mina fist pumped. "Ask away Sensei!"

"Umm Mina-chan, do you even know what she's going to ask?" Kirishima enquired.

"Yeah Ashido its only going to work if you actually know your stuff." Sero added in.

"….save me heroes."

Katsumi facepalmed.

Komoe chuckled. "Alright, first question. What is plus alpha?"

"OH! I know this one! Its the body part that contains the quirk right?" Kirishima shouted.

"Bzzt. Wrong!"

*WHACK*

"YOU IDIOT!" The idiots pink teammate screamed.

"The correct answer is all the mechanisms that allow the quirk to function. Remember Kirishima-chan, a quirk needs more than just the body to function. Just like the buttons and screen of your phones, the activation conditions and powers are simply the visible components of your quirks. They still require internal hardware and software to function, that being your 'quirk organs' and the brain."

"Umm… right thats what I meant?"

No one was convinced.

"Second question, which part of the brain is the most essential for a quirk to function."

"T- MMM!" Sero taped the red head's mouth shut for good measure.

"Bakugou-sama please tell me you have the answer!" Ashido begged her Team IC with puppy dog eyes.

The number 3 sighed. "Trick question."

"Oh? How so Katsumi-chan?"

"Every quirk has two functions, Passive and Active. The passive function of a quirk would be something like my Nitroglycerin production or Racoon Eye's acid production, which operates subconsciously. Like respiration, digestion and thermoregulation, these processes are regulated subconsciously by the lateral hypothalamus."

Komoe nodded. "So far so good."

"And the active function of a quirk would be something like me setting off an explosion or Shitty Hair turning his skin hard. These functions require conscious effort to be used, and the decision making and sub-processes of using a quirk and how one chooses to use it are carried out in the frontal lobe."

"You are correct Katsumi-chan! Sensei is happy you've been keeping up with your studies."

"Y-yeah…" Katsumi struggling to not recall the incident which made her to research brain functions and damage.

She shuddered.

"Are you cold Bakugou?" Sero asked in concern.

"MMM!"

"Quiet you." Ashido chided.

"Its nothin."

"She shouldn't be, people with quirks that output large amounts of thermal energy have adaptations to insulate themselves from temperature changes." Komoe added.

Sero raised a brow. "Eh really? No wonder she's always going from one end to-"

*Crackle* *Pop*

"I'm sorry what were you saying?"

"Shutting up."

"That brings me to my final question. What is the quirk singularity phenomenon?"

"Eh how is that related? Is that a hint sensei?" The pink girl inquired.

Komoe simply made a zipping motion with her fingers.

"It was a theory that recently saw merit, that in every passing generation quirks would continue to grow in both strength and complexity. Eventually they would grow out of control and no one would be able to control them anymore." Katsumi answered.

"Correct again Katsumi-chan, and who are the two most prominent examples of this phenomenon?"

"Two of the three legendary heroes of Japan right?" Sero spoke up. "The Blue Eyed Devil: Endeavour and Shiroryuu(白龍)."

"Elaborate please."

"They came from the famous Todoroki and Himura clans right? The ones started by the strongest quirk users of the first generation, the legendary quirk users Red Hound and Blue Pheasant." Sero continued.

"Because no one else possessed the raw power to stand up to them, a rivalry developed between the two which carried on long after their death through their decedents. After generation and generation, neither had the edge on the other, but eventually in the most recent era the Himura clan gained a huge edge in power."

"But what caused these two clans to grow at such a rate? Mind you even if they started out with much more power than any other quirk user during the first generation. The rate in which their quirks developed through the generations was far ahead of any other family lines, at least until the I-Island started the hero development program. Which, fun fact the clans were one of the first to reach out and join the program."

"Eugenics." Katsumi spat out.

"They had a long running custom of quirk marriages."

"Wait really?" Ashido spoke out.

"Indeed." Komoe spoke sullenly.

"So what happened to them?" Kirishima shouted out.

"They- wait how did you get it off?" The tape user questioned.

The red head simply raised a sharp hardened fist.

"Right… anyway the Himura clan gained an edge that lasted until their latest heir, Himura Rei. She was known to be the strongest and most talented ice user the Himura clan had ever seen."

"Wait and they lost their edge? How?"

"Because the same thing happened to the Todoroki clan, only better." Katsumi spoke out.

"Todoroki Enji was the strongest fire user in the clans history, his flames were so hot they burned bright blue, but there came the complications. The two were the strongest, so strong they outclassed every international hero at the time and were the closest to surpassing All Might himself. But that strength became their downfall, it became evident that their own quirks were killing them."

"Wait they can do that?" The acid user screamed.

Katsumi nodded. "They did everything to grow stronger, and they did everything to keep that strength from killing them. They even asked the director of the Island himself, but even he couldn't do anything about it. So they grew and grew, until even the act of using their quirk could hurt them. And some time more than 10 years ago… they… were no more."

"Damn… so my own quirk could…" Kirishima looked at his clenched fist.

"Don't worry you all! That won't happen anymore." Komoe smiled.

"With the data we've gathered from the clan and their history, the teachers at the Island have taken measures to ensure that something like this won't happen again!"

"Phew, thank All Might." Kirishima exhaled in relief.

"Actually that brings up a good point. Why isn't All Might affected by the singularity?" Sero asked.

"Umm, we… haven't figured that out yet…" Komoe blushed.

"Ehhh, I thought you were the best Sensei…" Ashido complained

Katsumi scoffed. "As if All Might is weak enough to get fucked over by his own quirk."

"Ahhh, language Katsumi-chan! A-and its not like Sensei's know everything. I just so happened to major in Pyrokinesis and I did my thesis on Cryoscience applications."

"Wait Sensei! So we passed right? Can we…" Ashido looked ready to storm off.

"Umm actually…"

"Ehh? We got 2 of the questions right, right?"

"What do you mean we?" Katsumi deadpanned.

"It was a team effort!"

"We might have accidentally caught up with the class content in those 3 questions. Hehe…" Komoe sweatdropped.

"Huh? Seriously?" Kirishima exclaimed.

"Isn't that good though? We're basically finished either way." Sero stated.

"Ughh finally…" Ashido sighed in relief.

"Well, I'll be on my way then. I still have another naughty student to take care of. I'll see you all next session everyone!"

"Hai sensei! See you soo- wait." Ashido froze.

"Next session?"

Komoe tilted her head. "Didn't Tsunagu-kun tell you? We're going to do this every week."

"UNTIL WHEN!?"

"He never gave me a specific date so, until he says so?"

"WAH!? So we have to go through that boring ass lecture ag-"

*WHACK*

"OWIE! Whaddyou do that for Se-"

*Sniff*

"AHH! Gomen Sensei! I mean I uh- AHHHH!"

Katsumi facepalmed. "Fucks sake."

---

Part 6: Stupid Beach

---

"GET IT THE FUCK AWAY!"

Sero tossed the can as far away as possible but it wasn't enough.

Ashido tried to shield the diminutive woman with her body.

Kirishima used his own body to shield as much of the blast as possible.

Katsumi unable to aim her with Kirishima in the way was unable to do anything.

The can exploded.

And the ground below them collapsed.

---

The Next Day

*Splash*

"Hey Ashido knock it off!" A certain hardening quirk user protested. The plaster on his face was getting wet from the splashes.

"Cmon Kiri a little-" *SPLASH* "-water never hurt no one!"

"What about fire quirk users?" Sero spoke up.

"You know what I mean!" Ashido pouted.

"Wait really? Hey Bakubro! Does water hurt you?" Kirishima asked.

"Are you real?" Sero deadpanned.

"Unfortunately…" Ashido muttered out.

"Hey I heard that! Y-"

"Hold on." Sero interjected.

He pointed to their missing leader, who was just silently sitting beside the steps to the beach.

Katsumi looked like she was in a daze, sporting an unreadable expression and a concerningily depressed aura.

"Bakugou? Boss? Katsumi?" Ashido called.

"BAKUBRO." Kirishima threw a sudden right hook.

"Huh-URK!"

"OH MY GOD! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE KIRI!?" Ashido screamed in horror.

"Crap! I-I didn't think it actually hit!"

"YOU PUNCH SOMEONE AND EXPECT IT TO NOT HIT!?"

"She usually dodges!"

"I'll start planning for the funeral." Sero spoke in dejection.

"Guys please-Wait don't run! Guys? Guys!?"

*BOOM*

"DIE!"

"AHH! I GIVE! I GIVE!"

"Ara ara. I see you're being as unruly as usual."

Kaminari Doi and her team came out of nowhere dressed in their swimwear.

"Tch. What the fuck are you doing here?"

"Hmph. What else would someone do at the beach? Or does a brute like you only know how to pick fights everywhere you go? With your own teammates nonetheless."

*Cackle* *Pop*

"I can pick one with a dumb bitch instead."

"Oh? I didn't think you resort to fighting yourself."

"I didn't think you'd run from a fight. But I guess its only natural when you're faced with an unbeatable opponent."

"Huh? Unbeatable opponent? Where? All I see is a broad with a big mouth and an even bigger head."

"Huh. Maybe your eyes are as shitty as your heroics."

"Excuse me?"

"ALRIGHT!" Mina butted in.

"Can we just stop arguing? We came here to have fun not fuckery."

"I'm with Ashido." Jiro but in.

"How bout you stay on your side, and we'll just scoot over there. Truce?"

"…"

"…"

"Tch."

"Hmph."

"Good enough." Jiro sighed.

The number 3 glared at the number 4 as her team left for the other side of the beach.

Once they were out of sight.

"FUCK!"

Katsumi screamed out in anger.

"This day could not get any worse."

"Bakugou?"

"WHAT SHITTY HAIR!?"

"Are you alright?"

Was she? What was she so on edge about?

"Is this about yesterday?"

"NO! I mean I-uh…"

"You took it pretty hard after it happened."

"…."

---

Yesterday

"So, thats how we correlated quirk ranking with a study of individual academic intelligence and the level of education received." The small sensei explained.

"Huh, so thats why Kiri is so bone headed." The pink girl bemused.

"Hey!"

"By the way sensei, why did we have to go all the way to the mall for some juice?" Sero asked.

"Eh!? Uhh… "

"Wait what is that drink you bought? That doesn't look like any juice I know."

"I-I-It's a new brand!"

"Why does it say 40%? Is that a new kind of branding?"

"Uhh… Uhhh…"

"Its alcohol isn't it?"

"N-N-NO! I-I-ITS-"

"Aww Sensei, are we such bad students that you have to resort to day drinking?" Ashido fake cried.

"AHH! D-don't twist this against sensei, Ashido-chan! S-Sensei simply needs a-a pick me up."

"So its day drinking." Katsumi stated as a matter of fact.

"I-Its uhh-uhh…"

"Sensei we won't hold it against you or anything, I mean alcohol addiction is not the worst thing someone can have." Kirishima stated

"Eh!? Oh no, is this the how my image of a perfect sensei shatters!?"

Katsumi tried to calm her. "Of course not sensei, that-"

'Wait I can't just say that never existed because you look like a 9 year old girl.'

"It- Oof!"

*Bump*

"Hey! Watch where you're going yo- DEKU!?"

A familiar green mop of hair came into her view.

"...oh hi kacchan…"

Izuku looked quite depressed and he looked like he hasn't slept in days. A far cry from the boy who helped Katsumi when she was in a rut not too long ago.

"You look kinda familiar... Oh! You're the guy who was on a date with that girl!" Kirishima yelled out.

Katsumi stiffened. 'D-D-D-Date!?'

Izuku's face fell as he said that, as if he recalled something unpleasant. "It wasn't a date."

"Oh, my bad dude."

"Ano, Deku-chan? Would you like to have a drink with us? You look like you could use a refreshment." Komoe asked.

"…I wouldn't want to impo-"

"Nonsense! C'mon guy! Ashido butted in slinging an arm over Izuku's shoulder.

"I'll get more juice." Komoe declared.

"Some actual juice sensei?" Sero confirmed.

"Ehh? O-Of course Sero-chan!"

"So..tell us how you got to know the boss over here!"

"…...I got stabbed for her."

"WHAT!?" Everyone shouted out.

Katsumi face palmed. 'Why is he like this?' "Thats… not wrong but…"

All eyes were on her.

"L-Lets j-just say he saved my life ok?" Katsumi blushed.

Ashido immediately took notice of the girl's current state. "Oooh a knight in shinning armour eh?" She winked very conspicuously.

"Man if you saved Bakubro's life you must be one manly guy!" Kirishima hardened his fists in excitement. "Care for a spare sometime?"

Komoe passed Izuku a can she ordered from the brunette at the drink stall, while holding one she bought for herself. "Kirishima-chan, no roughhousing in public. Komoe scolded.

"Ah, my bad sensei. Umm... Hey, how bout this then?" Kirishima hardened his palm.

"Hit me as hard as you can, right in there."

"Eto…" Komoe sweat dropped.

"Its fine, no ones actually gonna get hurt sensei. So how about it guy?"

Izuku felt guilty, it wasn't fair at all. "I… don't think thats a good idea Kirishima-san…"

"Oh come on dude! Ok how bout this." He hardened his face.

"Hit me right here in the noggin. Now its fair game with my quirk active."

Katsumi was trying and failing to hold back her laughter. "D-D-Do it Deku-Pfft-Just do it!"

"…O-Ok? If you're sure." Izuku said hesitantly.

"Positive man! Sero! Count us down will ya?"

Sero looked apprehensive. On one hand Kirishima has one of the best defensive quirks he seen, on the other hand this Deku dude actually saved Bakugou the number 3. This could honestly go badly either way.

"Ok…3…"

Izuku readied a right hook.

"…2…"

Katsumi whipped out her phone to record it all.

"…1!"

*PUNCH*

---

"BWAHAHAHAHA-" Katsumi replayed the video for the hundredth time.

"…its not that funny. OW." Kirishima pouted while nursing his broken nose, with another can of cold juice.

"Pfft. It is pretty funny Kiri." Ashido snickered as she watched beside Katsumi.

"I-I'm really sorry about that Kirishima-san." Izuku nervously voiced out.

"Ah, don't worry about that dude. I issued the challenge, I can take the L like a man. Ow."

"Well... like an injured man." Sero quipped.

"Haha."

Komoe pouted. "See, this is why sensei said no roughhousing!"

"Gomen sensei…" Kirishima apologised with a tear falling from his eye.

Komoe sighed. "You kids remind me of another naughty boy I know."

Komoe placed down her can of actual juice. "Let sensei take a look at that."

Komoe opened up her first aid kit that came out of nowhere.

"Its fine sens-OW!"

Komoe dabbed a cotton ball with disinfectant on Kirishima's nose. "There we go!"

"Wow sensei do you always carry first aid with you?" An impressed Ashido asked.

"Hehe sensei has a little training in medicine, it helps when dealing with rowdy kids like you all."

Kastsumi sighed. "Fucking idio-"

Katsumi noticed something on her pants.

It was a juice stain.

But the can in her hand was already empty.

Unnoticed by everyone, something strange was occurring.

The can that Komoe put aside suddenly scrunched up on itself, spilling juice everywhere.

Katsumi's eyes widened as a small dark sphere suddenly formed around the centre of that can. Causing a blackhole like effect to occur.

"GET IT THE FUCK AWAY!"

Sero who took notice, tossed the can as far away as possible with his tape but it wasn't enough.

"SENSEI!" Ashido tried to shield the diminutive woman with her body.

'I'll just blow it all away!' Katsumi aimed a finger gun at the mini blackhole.

But something got in her way.

Kirishima stood with his arms spread, trying to shield his friends from as much of the blast as possible.

"MOVE YOU IDIOT!"

It was too late.

But…

A familiar green haired boy rushed into the epicentre, and jumped onto the can itself.

The can exploded.

A bright flash of light encapsulated them all.

And the ground below them collapsed.

---

Katsumi let out a small blast to clear the smoke.

"Deku? Deku!? IZUKU!?" She frantically called out

"Bakugou calm down. We need to clear this rubble before we can find him." Sero reminded.

"R-Right. E-Everyone! Are you all right?"

"As all right as I can be. Hows Sensei Mina-chan?" The hardening quirk user asked.

"S-Sensei is all right Kirishima-chan." Komoe replied from underneath Mina.

"Boss! I found him!" Sero shouted.

Katsumi sprinted over.

"Izuku!? EEP!"

The boy in question was fine, aside from a few cuts from the rubble. What was really jarring was his attire.

He had none.

"Looks like his clothes got burned up in the explosion. But damn you must be one tough guy if you could tank that blast." Sero commented.

'So it was a quirk induced explosion. Thank god.'

"L-L-Lets just get him some clothes alright?"

"I'm on it."

Kastumi moved closer to Izuku, trying not to blush.

"A-A-Are you alright?….Deku?"

Izuku's eyes looked lifeless. It was a look foreign to Katsumi.

This wasn't the boy who wanted to help the everyone and save anyone he could along the way.

This wasn't the look of the boy that saved her. The look of her hero.

"Here ya go boss." Sero tossed her a set of clothes from the wreckage of a nearby clothing shop.

Katsumi handed Izuku the set. "I-I-I'll give you some privacy."

This Izuku looked almost disappointed. Was he disappointed that the explosion didn't…

No… was he?

---

Present Day

Katsumi turned away from Mina.

"Everything turned out alright right?"

"…its not that simple."

It really wasn't, there were too many unanswered questions.

Who attacked them? Why would they attack them? There were no previous incidents like this, and the quirk used was unidentified.

More importantly who exactly was the target.

The number 3 and her team?

The supposed best teacher on the Island?

Or the quirkless boy who seemed more depressed than usual.

"C'mon Katsumi! Izuku-san wouldn't want you to pout around right?"

"Tch. You don't speak for him."

"No, but I speak for all of us here. We came here to chill, y'know get rid of the negativity and all that."

"…Maybe I-"

*BUMP*

"Ow! What the…"

Katsumi picked up the volleyball that hit her.

"Ah! sorr- gomenasai!" The gaijin galloped over to apologise.

"Fucks sake." Katsumi rubbed her head.

"I thought you guys were keeping to your side!"

"Oh? Are you really so immature that you're going to hurt one of my teammates over a small accident like this?" Kaminari Doi arrived behind Pony.

"I'm not gonna hurt her. But if it was some other blonde…" Katsumi's palms cackled.

"Ara? You really want to update the rankings do you?" Kaminari started to spark.

"Hah! You wish bitch."

"Really now? Between all of the top 10, you and I have always been the closest in ability."

"Hah! How many times have you ever managed to overtake me? Hold on, 1, 2, 3-Oh wait! ZERO!"

"…Kyoka-san?"

The long eared girl perked up and walked over. "You rang?"

"Evacuate."

Jiro raised a brow. "Really boss? This is a pretty stupid reason."

"Really." Doi glared.

Jiro shrugged. "Alright then. Come on Tsutonori, we have shit to do."

"H-Hai!"

Katsumi looked around warily. "What the fuck are you up to?"

"Oh, don't worry about them. They're just evacuating the beach."

"Excuse me?"

"It's not a very busy day so, I'd say it'll take about… 30 minutes? Give or take?"

"What are you up to Kaminari?" Katsumi squinted in suspicion.

"Ara? I thought you had more intuition than this Katsumi-channn."

"What. Are. You. Up. To?"

"Hpmh. Setting up our battlefield of course."

"Huh?"

"We're going to settle this once and for all."

"You wanna fucking go in the middle of the beach?"

"Well unless you want to keep your ranking intact…"

"Fuck that."

*POP*

She let out another explosion in her palms.

Katsumi grinned maliciously. "I've been wanting for a chance to blow off some steam. Lets fucking go."

Ashido groaned. "I just wanted to build sandcastles…"

---

Part 7: Stupid Bitch

---

(インスタントブレット) vs (エレクトロマスター)

[超原子砲] vs [電撃使い]

---

"Kyoka-san, final perimeter check?"

Jiro waved her earmarks in the air like a sonar. "All clear boss."

Doi looked up. "Pony, in position?"

"Right Captain!" The gaijin responded with a salute.

"Last chance to back out." Kaminari taunted with a smirk.

"Tch, if you're fucking scared then say so." Katumi sneered back.

"I guess not."

Sero and Kirishima ran back to the group. "Tape perimeter done and done."

The red head looked worried in particular. "Are you sure about this boss?"

"Are you looking down on me Shitty Hair?"

"M-more worried about the beach to be honest."

"Oh don't worry." Katsumi wore a malicious grin.

"I'll take care of this bitch real good."

Doi just rolled her eyes at her remark.

Eijiro gulped.

"Now get out of here, that goes for all of you."

She turned to stare down the number 4. "You don't want to be in the splash zone."

"For once I agree." Doi responded with the same aggression.

"Good luck boss!" Ashido called out before running a safe distance away.

The two SS Ranks were left on the beach, tension so thick you could cut it with a chainsaw. Only the splashing of the waves could be heard, if this was a yuri anime, a confession would follow.

But the only thing left in the aftermath of this confrontation would be blood and wounded pride.

The number 3 sparked up her palms, already prepared to fire off a megaton blast.

The number 4 sparked with electricity, her body covered in a dress made of lightning.

There was no countdown needed.

The number 3 launched herself with her signature explosions.

The number 4 used her electrokinetic abilities to boost the electric signals in her leg muscles.

A loud shockwave exploded outward, sand blowing out like a miniature dust storm.

"OOF!"

An elbow reached out, a millisecond too fast for her to react.

The number 3 who was stronger was knocked back.

"That's the difference between you and me." The number 4 who won the clash spoke down to her opponent.

A surge of bright yellow formed around Doi's hand.

"You may be faster with your explosions, but I can react even faster. You possess more raw power than me, but I am more versatile."

A trail of bright glaring lightning shot out.

Instinctively Katusmi jumped backward to avoid the attack, firing a blast to counter it.

"GAH!"

Shrapnel came out nowhere, causing various cuts across Katsumi's body.

As the dust settled a vague structure made of hardened sand appeared in her view.

"If you bothered to do anything other than overpower your enemies you'd probably be able to do this too." The electromaster explained admiring her handiwork.

"Tch, silicate glass."

"The same phenomenon when lightning strikes a beach. I believe they call it petrified lightning ."

"So you're going to beat me by building a sandcastle."

"Charming, but I doubt it'd be as boring as that." Lightning began to spark around Doi's hands again.

Katsumi preemptively aimed with a finger gun pose and fired off her signature attack, intending to finish Doi off before she could ramble on.

The instant bullet.

A beam of pure energy, focusing the strong nuclear force of nitroglycerin to the diameter of a molecule.

The beam emitted so much energy that it ionised the surrounding air, causing it to spark orange with electricity.

The number 3 thought the number 4 wouldn't be so weak that she'd be killed, but it would have done a number on her.

The dust cleared.

And the number 4 who taken the number 3's strongest attack head on was completely unscathed.

"You really think I'd come to challenge you without a way to defend against your signature move, [超原子砲] (Instant Bullet)?"

She took a swipe at the air, clearing the remaining dust out of the way.

Each hand armed with four beams of pure energy.

'They're blades.' Katsumi observed.

They were blades formed from electric arcs, each emitting from the tip of her fingers.

"So you finally got into retro heroes. Thinking of turning into a hairy Canadian midget?"

"It's much more complex than your basic brain can compute."

She waved the blades in the sand, forming scorching trenches of glass.

"You harness the strong nuclear force to create beams of plasma, AKA ions. While the electromagnetic force I wield is 137 times weaker, I can do so much more."

Katsumi fired of a barrage of explosive beams.

"An ion is a particle which possesses electric charge, meaning it can be affected by electromagnetic fields."

Doi shielded herself with the blades in a cross position, each of the beams slowly dispersing the beams.

"So you neutralise the positive ions using electrons, and redirect the negative ions with the field you emit before they can reach you. Tch, clever I'll admit that."

*Boom*

Doi was blown back from the fiery explosion.

"But thats not going to work against shockwaves of pure kinetic energy." Katsumi sneered.

"Hmph." Doi slowly dusted herself.

"I suppose a brute like you come to that conclusion. But those attacks don't have the reach or power of your concentrated attacks." She sent out another wave of electricity.

Katsumi back stepped. "Neither do yours."

"Then we'll have to make this a more intimate battle don't we?" Doi activated her muscles with electricity, boosting forward in a flash.

Katsumi boosted upward with an explosion, moving toward the ocean.

Doi threw wave after wave of electricity across the water, unfortunately none of them managed to hit her target.

'Bitch is forgetting that she has jack for manoeuvrability.'

She tightly clasped a handful sand she was holding. Fusing the particles into a clump of glass.

'If I gain enough distance I can probably snipe her.'

The number 4 continued with her relentless assault, a large fog forming around the surrounding ocean.

'Is she seriously still trying to hit me? That bitch is stupid but not that stupid.'

Unbeknownst to the airborne number 3, Doi gave a smirk.

She lit a spark on her finger, and produced a shockwave of detonated oxygen.

Everything was going according to plan.

---

"Checkmate." Jiro commented from afar.

"Hey! Don't count Bakubro out yet!"

"You're not the brightest aren't you?"

"What did you say?" Ashido angered on behalf of her teammate.

"Why'd you say that?" Sero being the voice of reason questioned them.

"You know why people use gasses to set traps, instead of flames to burn their enemies?" Jiro explained, twirling her ear jacks.

Kirishima racked his head. "Uhh, because flames would go out too quickly?"

Jiro tilted her head. "Eh, partially true. The point is…"

"You won't see it coming until its too late." Kodai who had been silent, spoke her first words.

*BOOM*

The squabbling audience directed their attention toward a large wave of flames erupting from the ocean Katsumi was hovering over.

Ashido's eyes popped out. "What the-"

---

"FUCK!" Katsumi was blasting off as fast as she could to escape the waterborne inferno.

The faster she went, the stronger the flames burned.

The number 3 shot out from the top of the second ocean of orange, gasping for air. Like a billionaire genius escaping from a terrorist camp.

"Aww, guess I needed a little more pesticide."

The number 4 flew up through the cloud of vapour, using static electricity to create a yellow aura that allowed her to levitate.

"What the fuck?" Katsumi growled out.

"I explained enough for your tiny brain to compute already. But even you must have heard of electrolysis."

'That explained it. The bitch wasn't aimlessly wasting energy, she was creating hydrogen and oxygen from the saltwater. Turning the ocean into a combustion bomb, while also creating the perfect battlefield for her.'

Even after escaping the blast, Katsumi was still trapped.

Go any higher and she'd pass out from the already thinning oxygen.

Go any lower and Doi could use the large body of water as a medium for her attacks.

But staying wasn't much better.

Kaminari held out her hand, forming even longer blades on her fingertips.

The field was set.

The number 4 had closed the gap in ability.

The number 3 was already winded from the lack of oxygen.

The real fight had just begun.

The number 4 extended her blades, each one splitting into many tiny stakes aimed at her opponent.

The number 3 shot off a barrage of explosions to counter them.

"Gah"

Katsumi managed to scathe off the bulk of the needle sized attacks, but a good number still pierced through her defence.

"AH!"

Doi managed to avoid the majority of the blasts, but was still shaken up by the aftershocks of the blasts.

"Tch, you've obviously been thinking this fight out for a while. I'm flattered."

"Of course you would, why wouldn't the only compliment you take be about fighting."

"What? First positive thing I said all day about you, and you just brush it off? You petty jealous bitch."

"I'm not petty and definitely not jealous of a c*nt like you."

"Ooh, fighting words from someone with such a complex about the rankings."

"You really think this is about the rankings?"

"Isn't it? You've had a bone to pick with me since day numero uno, what the fuck did I do besides be better than you."

"You see that? That is why. You're just some arrogant bitch who thinks she's the best in the world. Some dumb brute who think she can just overpower everything, that everyone else just amounts to jack because she was born lucky!"

"Born lucky? Do you even own a mirror?"

Doi was seething. "You know nothing about me."

"Oh here we go, tell me your sad backstory. What? Your dog died? You were forced into this by your clan? Your boyfriend abandoned you for someone else? Big whoop, people like us always have some sad fucked up past. The people who come on top are those who stop fucking whining and start working." Katsumi let out another blast.

Kaminari dodged, repelling by altering the polarity of the charged particles. "You think I'm not trying? You think that only your reason is the right one? You only think of yourself! You only think of me as the lower rank, the inferior one. That's why you'll never understand! Thats why I'll never get along with someone like you!"

"Oh yeah? Well guess what? I do know I'm fucking weak, that's why I train to get stronger. Lower rank? Inferior? Did that come out of my mouth or yours? If you're just in this race of ours just to satisfy that inferiority complex of yours, then why the fuck are you even trying?"

"Why? Because I made a promise to someone. Someone who isn't like you and me, someone who wasn't as lucky."

Doi detonated the remaining oxygen in the air, countering the explosion Katsumi was already sending out.

"Someone who had nothing but gives everything for the sake of others. If I was so privileged that I could afford to give up top tier resources, a guaranteed seat in hero society, and a powerful quirk, just because I was a dumb, lazy and entitled brat. Then how could I ever measure up? That's the real difference between you and me, I'm trying for the sake of my team, my friends, the people I care about. You only strive for yourself!"

Katsumi fired of a well aimed Instant Bullet, only to be repelled by Doi's hair acting as a medium for her ability similar to electric rails.

'Only strive for myself? If this was the me from a few weeks ago, I would actually agree with this bitch. But…' Katsumi thought of a green haired boy she knew, someone who also had nothing. A boy who built everything from the ground up, even his powers.

Even after everything he never gave up.

Even after everything he never resented her for being born lucky.

Even after everything he still ran in to save her life without a second thought.

"You're right."

The two paused their barrage of attacks.

"You and me are different, and I do strive for myself. But what's wrong with that?"

"Huh?"

"So what if I'm working hard for myself? If I didn't, I wouldn't be strong enough to protect my team. If I didn't, I would stop caring about myself. If I didn't, I would burn myself out or get fucking murdered because I tried to hard to protect everyone but myself."

These were the words she told herself to keep her going. These were the words she hoped to tell that fluffy green haired boy who saved everyone but himself.

"Is it really sin to be selfish? A crazed maniac once thought that to be a hero you couldn't be, that everyone needed to be the best. To be All Might."

Katsumi clenched her fist in determination.

"So even if I'm never going to be anything more than the number 3. Even if I'm never going to surpass All Might."

For that boy, for her team, and for herself.

"I'll surpass myself, every single day. I'll beat the shit out of the weak ass Bakugou Katsumi of yesterday."

There wasn't a speck of doubt left in her heart.

"Hmph. Then I'll do the same." Doi released another shockwave, blasting her forward.

"I will beat Bakugou Katsumi." She declared, swinging the blades made of lightning.

*SPARK*

A huge burst of static electricity reverberated through the air.

The number 3 had taken the attack head on.

"Good luck bitch."

*BAM*

The number 4's sure kill attack was repelled with a single hand.

"H-how?"

"I appreciate all the effort you put into inventing this technique to defeat me, but…"

Katsumi's hand sparked with orange static.

"You're going to have to try harder than that, shit stain."

"What the fuck did you do?"

"Maybe this is too difficult for your tiny brain to understand."

"Stop fucking around!"

"You should have read the patch notes a little more clearly, my ability to produce nitroglycerin was enhanced to the point where I could control the molecules. So all I needed to do was alter the way I manipulate it."

Katsumi no longer simply ignited the nitroglycerin in a combustion type reaction.

"You decomposed it in a different way, splitting it into cations and anions instead of forming stable molecules."

It was simple enough.

If the number 4 could release electric charge in the form of electrons, then all she needed to do was negate that charge and the electric force would be neutralised.

The same way the number 3's attacks were scattered using the properties of electric charge.

She just needed electric charge to be taken out of the equation.

However…

"Did you really think you could produce enough charge to overpower me? The Electromaster? Don't underestimate me, number 3!"

Doi sparked up, her electric aura charging to full power.

"You already said my strong nuclear force was stronger than your electromagnetic force. Don't overestimate yourself Number 4."

The She-Devil of UA and the Goddess of Thunder, prepared for one final clash.

The number 4 gathered what water vapour remained in the air, producing a giant cloud of static electricity.

The number 3 created a huge blast of cations from her nitroglycerin to counter it.

The two attack waves clashed into a giant sphere of assorted spectrum of red, orange and yellow. Shockwaves erupted above and below, creating chasms in the clouds and tsunamis in the sea.

Seconds later, a blonde girl fell from the sky into the ocean below.

The victor had been decided.

---

"-oi-chan. Captain Doi?"

The blonde was being slapped awake by a similarly blonde gaijin.

"Ugh, I'm up Pony…"

The number 4 who lost the battle groggily got up from the sand.

The number 3 who won was standing in front of her with a smug grin plastered on her face.

"Happy?"

"Oh you have no idea how much this made my day. My hero."

"Hmph, as a good sportsman I would offer to shake. But seeing as neither of us would enjoy touching the other, I'd say we just leave it as that."

"For once I can fucking agree with you."

Her team gathered round and left, Katsumi could only hope they were leaving the beach altogether.

"So… did you get the fight you wanted?" Mina curiously peeked out from her side.

"Tch, you could say that."

It wasn't a fight she was expecting or a fight that she expected to walk away pondering about, but in the end it was a fight she enjoyed.

"Now I'm itching for some training!" Katsumi maliciously grinned.

"Huh?"

"Hell yeah! Getting all fired up after a huge fight like that, that's the kind of manliness I expected from you Bakubro!" Kirishima sparked his hardened fists in excitement.

"How can I be manly if I'm a girl, dumbass!? And I told you to stop calling me that!" She bonked the idiot on the head.

"AH! My bad! OW-"

"Eh? I thought this was supposed to be a rest day? Huh, where are you dragging Kiri? Where are you dragging ME!? Noooooo! Sandcastlessssss…." Ashido cried.

Sero simply sighed at the familiar sight.

"Business as usual I guess."

---

Part 8: Stupid Me

---

Katsumi was antsy as she walked down the street.

It was a normal Saturday afternoon, but that was just the problem!

She was roaming around with the intention of finding some crime to fight. She was literally looking for trouble.

But it seemed like the world just gave her the finger.

It was the most peaceful day she had seen in weeks.

Even after beating that bitch Electromaster last week, Katsumi quickly returned to her usual explosive self.

She had returned to the her previous state of depression after the incident at the mall with Deku.

Deku…

She smiled as her palms cackled.

He would give her a good fight.

He was an opponent that not even the number 4 could compare to.

He satisfied her in every single way.

Wait.

Katsimi smacked her cheeks.

What was she talking about!?

A fight.

Right! She just wanted a good fight, only Deku was good enough to compete with her now.

*BOOM*

She took off to the skies, heading over to Deku's place for a spar.

---

*KNOCK KNOCK*

"Deku? Deku?"

Katsumi arrived at Green Valley laboratories, the same place where he had saved her what felt like ages ago.

She looked to the side and cringed.

There was still the stain of blood smeared on the wall from Deku and… Stain.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

"Deku? Shimura? Anyone home?"

*Creak*

"Finally h- Oh it's you."

The one who answered the door was not the green haired boy she was c̶r̶u̶s̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶o̶n̶ looking for.

"Bakugou-san? What can I do for you?" Shimura Tenko had answered in his stead.

"Is Deku in? I wanna talk to him."

Shimura awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "Yeah… now's not the best time…"

Katsumi raised a brow. "Does this have to do with why he's looked so depressed recently?"

Tenko sighed. "So you know huh?"

"Fucker ran into an explosive without even knowing it was quirk induced, what do you think?"

The boy sighed again. "Listen, I'll let you talk to him but…"

"But?"

"Please go easy him. He's been like this since he came back from the hospital that day."

'The hospital? Something must have gone fucked.' "Just let me see him."

Shimura sighed for the third time before letting her in to see Deku.

Who was scribbling on his desk like a hikki-madman.

He looked terrible, like he hadn't slept in weeks, hadn't eaten in days.

Her heart broke a little seeing the boy in this state.

Not that she cared for him or anything!

"DEKU!" She yelled trying to mask her embarrassment with anger.

Deku creaked his head like a wooden doll.

"Kacchan… what do you need?"

With the gentle grace of a caring hero, she did the only thing she could think of.

"Get up, I'm going to fuck your shit!"

She could vaguely heard a slapping sound behind her.

"….ok." Izuku got up as slow as molasses.

So Katsumi just grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out.

"I'm borrowing him for the day! Don't wait up Shimura!"

"O-ok?"

*SLAM*

"…I think I seen something like this in a visual novel…"

---

"So do you want ketchup or mustard?" Katsumi asked while finishing up their order.

She didn't know what she was doing!

What started as a invite to a spar, turned into a-a-a date!?

Katsumi shook her head. 'No she was just being nice… like any hero should, like any good friend should!'

"Both are fine…" Izuku meekly replied.

"A-a-alright!" Katsumi shakily replied.

They took a seat at a nearby table, and started to eat.

Katsumi almost blushed a few while sharing a meal with the fluffy haired boy, stealing a few glances when he wasn't looking.

Thats when she noticed he wasn't looking.

His eyes looked distant, like he wasn't all there.

Something fucked up must have happened to cause her hero to be reduced to this.

"So what do you want Kacchan?" Izuku spoke for the first time.

"W-what?"

"Usually you want to spar or something when you look for me… if you want to then lets-"

"A-A-ACTUALLY!" Katsumi spoke a little too loudly.

"I-i-if you don't mind t-t-there's a place I like t-to t-take you!"

"Oh…ok?"

"Y-yeah, once you're done with your hotdog w-w-we can go!"

"Umm… you mean when you're done?"

Katsumi immediately noticed the empty wrapper he was holding.

"AH!" She stuffed what remained of her meal into her mouth.

"Mmeff mo! (Let's go!)" She grabbed his hand and dragged him away for the second time that day.

---

"Umm, Kacchan?"

"Y-yeah?"

"Isn't this your place?"

"Y-y-yeah w-what about it!?"

"Why a-"

"D-DON'T GET THE WRONG IDEA OR ANYTHING!"

Izuku was taken aback. "O-ok?"

"Lemme just…" Katsumi fiddled with her phone and unlocked the door with her home security app.

*Beep*

"Y-Yōkoso irasshaimashita! (ようこそいらっしゃいました！) (Welcome!)"

"O-O jama shimasu (お邪魔 します) (Thanks for having me.)"

If Katsumi was any other girl she would have gone 'KYA! A boy is in my house!' or some bullshit like that.

But Katsumi wasn't that basic, she would just blush… a lot… and possibly explode later on.

She walked up to her bedroom door and gestured for Izuku to follow.

"C-come h-here…"

At this point even Izuku was blushing.

"O-ok…"

She closed the door behind them and plopped down on her soft bed.

She tapped her side asking Izuku to sit next to her.

But Izuku just stared at the side of the bed as if he was having some traumatic flashback.

Katsumi got the hint, got up and sat at the edge of her bed instead.

"Come're." She patted her side.

Izuku warily hobbled over to her and sat down next to her, fully expecting a slap or something for misunderstanding.

Almost immediately he felt a hand next to his head, was she planning to blow his face up instead?

She didn't.

Katsumi pushed Izuku down into her lap.

She was giving him a lap pillow.

"K-K-Kacchan!? W-What?"

"Shut up!" He couldn't see her face, but he could feel the heat radiating off her face.

"Something happened didn't it?"

Izuku stiffened, was this a trap all along? Had he fell for the perfect trap? How could anyone resist a lap pillow from a cute girl! So this was an SS Rank interrogation technique!

"Hmph, you don't have to say shit, it's written all over your dumb face."

Izuku remained silent.

"So don't, keep quiet about it. I don't give a fuck about you 'opening up' or any of that shit. B-but…"

Katsumi blushed so hard you would think she was using her quirk.

"I-if you ever need t-to to to destress! I-I'm here for you… As a friend of course!"

And so she did the hardest thing she ever had to do in her life.

Katsumi softly nuzzled into the boy lying in her lap.

"You don't need to confess your sins, I'm not a fucking priest. You don't need to say jack shit, I'm not a damn therapist."

'KYAAA! WHAT AM I DOING' There it was.

"So if you need to cry, cry. You need to yell, yell. If you want to beat the shit out of something I'm ready to fucking go." Katsumi softly whispered.

"You don't need to hold back in front of me…"

Izuku's eyes widened, and then tightly shut as if he was trying to escape from the reality of it all.

It took her 5 minutes…10…15… but he finally let it all out.

And so Izuku cried.

He cried and cried.

He cried because of his failures.

He cried because of his worthlessness.

He cried for reasons that Katsumi didn't even understand.

But that didn't matter to her.

Katsumi stroked his fluffy hair as he bawled his eyes out.

All she wanted was to help the boy who saved her.

She leaned down and gave him a small kiss on his head.

All she wanted was to be a hero like him.

He probably didn't notice it but that didn't matter to her.

All she wanted was to be his hero too.

---

Afterword:

---

Hello Internet! That brings us to the end of this spin-off story!

I didn't really have a concrete plan for this one to be honest. The only plans I had were to flesh my version of Bakugou out more as a character, give a small intro to her team and how they worked, and a fight between the number 3 and number 4. It probably turned out more janky and disorganised than my previous works but I think it turned out ok for what it was. Now that I think about it all I did with this story to set up plot points and write tsundere fluff.

As for Kaminari Doi.
Obviously this version is very different from her male cannon counterpart, which I plan to explore more in future arcs. But the main thing I wanted to show was the rivalry between her and Katsumi. It's similar to what Misaka-san and Shokuhou-san have in Toaru, but much more 'physical' ,more like a typical shonen rivalry. I also wanted to make her the number 4 just as a little play on how Katsumi's powers are more similar to the Meltdowner, while Doi-chan takes after the legendary Railgun.

Now if you looked a bit closer you could probably tell the timeline of events from the little hints I sprinkled in here and there, but for clarification the last few chapters takes place right after Arc 3 and ends off right before Arc 4 starts. I also just wanted to write a fluff scene between Deku and Kacchan, something I feel doesn't get done a lot with Misaka or in tsundere characters with general. But can Izuku recover just from the power of the legendary lap pillow? Find out next time!

I hope you all enjoyed this story! See you all in Arc 4!